Sight for firearms



(No Model.)

W. LYMAN.

vSIGHT FOR FIREARMS. ,402. Patented Apr. 14, 1896:

Wii masses m AN DREW B GRAHAM PHUTD-UTHQWASHINGI'DN DYC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM LYMAN, OF MIDDLEFIELD, CONNECTICUT.

SIGHT FOR FIREARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,402, dated April 14, 1896.

Application filed June 4, 1895.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LYMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middlefield, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sights for Firearms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to sights for firearms, the object'being to provide a sight which shall be particularly adapted for pistols, revolvers, and similar small-arms.

The invention consists in a novel form of rear sight, and in the construction of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a revolver fitted with my improved sight. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sight detached. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the sight. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same. Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively rear and front views of the same. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively side and plan views of a sight-base adapted to be held laterally by interlocking serrations.

Referring to the drawings, A in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 denotes the sight, which is adapted to be received in a transverse dovetailed groove 1) in the frame C of the revolver, or rear end of a pistol-barrel, and for this purpose is provided with a corresponding dovetailed base (Z, fitting said groove 19. Mounted on the base, integral therewith, is a vertical transverse plate or bar 10, milled through centrally to provide a pair of leaves 6, both in the same plane and provided with the inwardly-proj ecting or overhanging portions f, forming an intervening space or notch g, having the shape of an inverted T. Horizontally inlaid on the rear side of the leaves 6 are the narrow celluloid or ivory strips h, both in the same plane or horizontal line, and to contrast effectively with these white lines the rear surfaces of the leaves are preferably roughened and rendered dark or non-reflective by means of knurling, fine grooving, or vertical lining, as shown in Fig. 2. If desired, the

upper flat surfaces of the leaves may also be shaded in the same manner, as shown in Fig. 3. The grooves 2 for the reception of the ivory or other white material extend entirely across the leaves e, but the ivory bars pref- Serial No. 551,700. (No model.)

erably terminate a short distance from the notch to provide a dark ground around the end of the bar, as 2 in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, show a modified form of this improved sight, in which the height of the leaves 6 and the width of the T-shaped notch g are rendered adjustable. To accomplish this end, the base K is provided with the rear and forward flanges Z and m, and the leaves n are separate and independent pieces,

adapted to be set in juxtaposition to the rear flange Z and secured in place by suitable clamps p, fitted between the leaves and forward flanges m, and fastened to the base by the set-screws r, the heads of the screws be ing countersunk both in the clamp and forward flanges 'm. Thus arranged the leaves may be raised or lowered in their seats, or moved endwise therein, afterward being clamped in place by tightening the set-screws r. In order to hold the leaves a more securely in their seats, they may be roughened by milling suitable small grooves or lines in their surfaces and correspondinglycorrugating or serrating the parts of the base and clamps p, which come in contact with them. The lines or grooves of the leaves a are shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the rear surfaces thereof being lined vertically, and the front surfaces horizontally, whereby the lines of the rear surface also provide the non-reflective effect requisite to contrast plainly with the white bars of the ivory, as hereinbefore specified. The setscrews 0 should have conical heads, as shown, in order to wedge the clamps tightly against the sights.

In the operation of aiming with this improved sight it is easy to bring the front sight t to range on a line with the ivory strips h, and also centrally between the overhanging ends of the leaves in the notch g, as illustrated in Fig. 2, which is the correct sighting relation of its front and rear sights. Revolvers being usually employed at short range, adjustment of the sights for elevation and wind-gage will not ordinarily be required, but such adjustment may be attained with the devices shown in Figs. 4 to 7, or by a suitable form of front sight especially adapted to the purpose.

The object of expanding the lower part of the notch g to provide inner overhanging ends upon the leaf is to obtain greater accuracy in sighting, for with such construction it is possible to bring the front sight to range on the central sighting-plane horizontally across the said projecting ends of the leaves without the aid of the ivory strips. Hence the inverted-T shape of the notch is essential, and with the combination therewith of the ivory lines, the dark spaces at the inner ends thereof, and the non-reflective rear surfaces of the leaves a very accurate sighting device is obtained of strong and simple construction adapted for all classes of small-arms and for use under varied and opposite conditions. Milled steps or interlocking serrations may be used to secure the base itself laterally, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the slot 40 in the barrel 50 and the base 41 being of rhomboidal form and both serrated on the edges 51, which form obtuse angles with their lower sides, a screw 42 being secured in the barrel with its head overlappingsaid edge of the base, as shown, which construction permits the ready adjustment of the part laterally or its removal, if desired.

I claim as my invention 1. In sight mechanism of the class described, the combination of laterally-adjustable leaves and a holding-base, the engaging surfaces of the leaves and base being serrated or grooved to prevent interlocking ridges in contact, and clamping means for clamping the movable leaves to the base, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a rear sight for firearms the combination of aslotted base, apair of jaws adapted to be received in the slot of the base, and provided with the projections or overhanging portions at the inner ends thereof forming an inverted-T-shaped notch or space centrally between the jaws, the white or ivory strips inlaid horizontally in the rear faces of the jaws in the plane of the said overhanging projections, and clamping means for securing the jaws in the base adjustable both vertically and horizontally therein, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

lVILLlAlll LYMAN.

Witnesses LOUISE A. DURRENBERGEI'Z, GORDON S. Goonmcu. 

